Basic principles of modern magnetic resonance imaging techniques and theirapplication in neurology

This review describes the basic principles of modern magnetic resonance ima ging (MRI) techniques and their application in neurology. A short introduct ion to MRI is presented. The MR methodology of diffusion-weighted (DMI), pe rfusion-weighted (PWI) and functional (fMRI) MR-imaging and their relative merits for the detection of brain disease is described. The relationship be tween experimental and physiological parameter is summarised, together with the associated experimental limitations and state-of-the-art technical dev elopments. The routine clinical utility of DWI, PWI and fMRI for the evalua tion of the pathophysiology of neurological disorders is demonstrated.